another_someone

Don't know why there should be significantly greater caution in eating humans than eating any other animal. Possibly the brain might be a concern, because of various prion diseases; but on the other hand, brain is supposed to be very nutritious.

I think the general rule for humans, as for any animals whose flesh one's wishes to eat - don't eat anything that died from natural causes (e.g. disease).

The caution against eating human flesh is that, obviously, humans are susceptible to the same diseases. It's the same for pork. Pigs carry a lot of bacteria that are harmful to humans. In either case, the meat must be thoroughly cooked.

Just as an addendum - some cannibals used to call human meat "long pig" as it apparently tastes like pork.

another_someone

my cannibal question is this... where do there people first TRY eating human flesh to discover that they like it? take jeffrey dahmer for example...

I think you can put cannibalism down to two distinct categories (although there may possibly be some overlap in some cases).

As Paul said, it is sometimes hunger; but in those cases, where hunger alone is the issue, it is usually a transient phenomena.

The other reason tends to be symbolism.

Cases like Jeffrey Dahmer or Armin Meiwes are anomolies, although again are more acts of symbolic significance, as the perpetrators were living out fantasies rather than actually satisfying a sensual taste for human flesh.

I think in societies where cannibalism is endemic, it has to be controlled by religion, otherwise society itself would break down (if everybody ate everybody, who would be left alive, so there must be certain rules that say you are allowed to eat human flesh in some circumstances, but not in others).

In most societies where cannibalism is endemic, it seems to be based on somehow retaining some part of the soul of the diseased by eating their flesh (e.g. if a dead relative, then they stay with you by having eaten a part of them - if a foe killed in battle, then you somehow absorb some of the bravery and skill of your opponent - a little like the idea of eating a lion might be thought to give you lion like qualities).

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